Clermont, Florida Legal Blog

Throughout people's lives in Florida they find themselves in different situations based on a number of different factors. Some of these factors are within people's control and other times things change in people's lives through circumstances out of their control. Also, sometimes people try to fix a bad situation and end up creating a bigger problem which may spiral out of control. When people find themselves in these situations they may become somewhat desperate and make poor decisions.

One of these poor decisions is that they may decide to take something that is not their property. If this occurs people may be charged with theft and face serious consequences as a result. The severity of the potential consequences depends on the amount people are accused of taking.

There are many dangers associated with drinking and driving, as our readers are aware. However, from time to time people may underestimate their intoxication levels or think they only have a short distance to drive. Even the most responsible people make mistakes. So, while the penalties for a first time DUI are significant, they are not as bad as if people do not learn from their mistakes and get a second DUI.

Not surprisingly, the potential penalties for a second DUI are worse since the first penalties did not change the behavior. These penalties include a fine between $1,000 and $2,000, as well as not more than nine months in jail. In addition to these criminal penalties, people will also need to install ignition interlock in any car that they own, lease or regularly drive for a period of one year. Ignition interlock is a system which requires the driver to blow into a machine to test their BAC before the car will start. The driver will be responsible for all costs associated with the ignition interlock.

There are many different reasons that people get into arguments and there are many different ways that people resolve these disputes as well. They can resolve them civilly by talking through the issues, but sometimes people resort to other forms of dispute resolutions such as yelling at each other and in some instances they may even become physical. One or both people may physically harm the other.

When people decide to resolve disputes in this manner, one or both could be charged with assault and/or battery. Assaults are threats of physical violence and battery is actual physical harm. There are different types of both as well. Simple assault or battery are for lower level offenses and are misdemeanors. However, people can be charged with aggravated assault and battery when there are subsequent offenses or serious harm done with intent. These are felony level offenses and carry more significant penalties.

There are many different drugs that people in Florida use each day. Many of these drugs are prescribed and, therefore, are perfectly legal for people to use. However, there are many other types of drugs that are always illegal. People arrested for possessing or distributing these illegal drugs can face serious drug charges. However, the severity of the consequences depends on a number of different factors.

One of these factors is the type of drug the person possesses. Drugs are categorized into five different schedules with Schedule I being the most serious. Drugs categorized as Schedule I have a high likelihood of abuse and no medical use. Schedule II includes drugs that also have a high likelihood for abuse but do have some highly restricted medical uses. Schedule III is drugs with a lesser likelihood for abuse that also have some medically accepted uses. Schedule IV drugs have a low likelihood of abuse compared to the other schedules and have some medically accepted uses. Schedule V drugs have the lowest likelihood for abuse than all other schedules and have some medically accepted uses.